Pat Cummins - Career, Stats, Wickets | Australian Cricket Team Captain

If there’s one cricket player who’s been at the center of all discussions in recent times, it's the Australian Cricket Team captain, Pat Cummins. Patty is the player who has given India back-to-back heartbreaks on the cricket field. First, after beating us in the World Test Championship Final and then after thrashing the Men in Blue and silencing the crowd at the largest cricket stadium in the world in the 2023 ICC ODI Cricket World Cup Final. In 2024, he led his team, Sunrisers Hyderabad, to the finals of the IPL 2024.  Apart from that, he has also won the  2015 ICC Cricket World Cup, 2021 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup as a player.

So, in this article by ZAP, let’s know more about Pat Cummins, his early life, his career, his stats and his captaincy style. 

Pat Cummins - Early life and Domestic Cricket Career

Pat Cummins, fondly called as Cuddo of Cider, was born on 8th May,1993 (present age 31) in South Asian Wales, Australia and started playing cricket at an early age. He played junior cricket for Glenbrook Blaxland Cricket Club and first grade cricket for Penrith District Cricket Club, New South Wales, as domestic cricketer. At the age of 17, Cummins made his first class debut against Tasmania in 2011. Later in 2011, he got a central contract from the national board. It made him the Youngest boy to get a central contract from Cricket Australia.

Pat Cummins - International Cricket Career

Pat Cummins burst onto the international cricket scene in 2011 with standout performances in T20 and ODI matches against South Africa. Despite a promising Test debut later that year, injuries sidelined him for years. He returned in 2015, contributing to Australia's World Cup triumph.

Establishing himself as one of Australia’s best fast bowlers during the 2017-18 Ashes, Cummins emerged as a handy lower order batsman and also as a leader in the Aussie dressing room. He was appointed Test vice-captain in 2019 and rose to become the world's top-ranked Test bowler. He played pivotal roles in Australia's 2019 ODI World Cup and Ashes campaigns. 

Pat Cummins - Captain of the Australian Cricket Team

In 2021, Cummins made history as the first fast bowler to captain Australia's Test team. His leadership was evident during the 2021-22 Ashes series, where he led from the front with a standout performance, including a five-wicket haul in his first innings as captain. Under Cummins' captaincy, Australia secured significant victories, including winning the ICC World Test Championship Final and the biggest of them all, the Cricket World Cup in 2023. 

His calm demeanour and strategic decision-making were particularly evident during the World Cup, where Australia bounced back from a rocky start to clinch the title without losing a single game thereafter. Cummins' ability to maintain composure under pressure and make the right decision, coupled with his exceptional cricketing brain, makes him an outstanding captain who inspires confidence and unity within the team.

Pat Cummins Stats and Wickets

Pat Cummins’ captaincy has taken more limelight in recent years, but with his fast bowling, he has also been one of the most consistent performers in world cricket. 

With a total of 467 wickets in 202 matches, Cummins has consistently troubled batsmen with his pace and accuracy. His best bowling figures of 6/23 in Tests, 5/70 in ODIs, and 3/15 in T20Is show that he’s a complete bowler across all formats. His biggest strengths in his bowling is his control of the line and length and the natural seam movement his gets from the pitch. 

Also Read: Swing Bowling Techniques | Fast Bowling Variations

Pat Cummins - SRH Captains in the IPL 

Cummins had his debut season in 2014 when he was picked by Kolkata Knight Riders. He only played a single match in his first IPL season. KKR won the trophy by beating Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) that year. After missing the 2016 season, he joined Delhi Daredevils in 2017 where he had a fine outing with the new franchise as he playing 12 matches and grabbing 15 wickets. 

In the 2020 auction, Cummins returned to the Knight Riders with a record-breaking Rs. 15.5 crore bid. He continued with the team for the 2021 and 2022 seasons, despite a reduced salary of ₹7.25 crore. Over his IPL career from 2014 to 2021, Cummins had played 37 matches and picked up 38 wickets. In the 2021 season, he impressed with nine wickets in seven games and also scored 93 runs. Interestingly, in the 2022 IPL season, he tied the record for the fastest IPL fifty, reaching 50 runs in just 14 balls.

Choosing to focus on his international duties, Cummins opted out of the 2023 IPL. In the 2024 auction, he was bought by Sunrisers Hyderabad for a whopping price of ₹20.5 crore and appointed team captain. Leading the team to a strong finish, Sunrisers Hyderabad placed second in the league and ended as runners-up in the final.

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